Thread guide



v Sept. 18, 1945.. .K. M. M LELLAN THREAD GUIDE Filed June 22, 1944 INVEN TOR. gnwvzrn f1. HQm/w MK. M,

Patented Sept. 18, 1945 THREAD GUIDE Cleveland, Ohio, assignor Kenneth M. McLellan;

to Industrial Rayon Ohio, a corporation oi Delaware Corporation,

Cleveland,

Application June 22, 1944, Serial No. 541,653

1 Claims. (01.242-157) This invention relates to a yarn or thread guide and, more particularly, it relates to a guide for wet yarn or thread which will wipe the/yarn or thread substantially free from liquids adhering thereto. I

The invention will be described with reference to its use in connection with the production of viscose rayon by the continuous process although it is to be understood-that the invention may also be used in connection with other processes and, in general, is adapted for use wherever wet threads; whether natural or synthetic, are to be simultaneously guided and wiped free from adherlng liquid.

In the production of viscose rayon by the continuous process, a cellulosic solution, commonly termed viscose, is extruded-through a spinneret into a coagulating bath to form a thread. This thread is then led from the coagulating bath to a thread-advancing, thread-storage reel. From this reel, the thread is conducted to a series ofthread-advancing, thread-storage reels on which various chemical treating operations are per-' formed. It is desirable that the treating fluids applied to the thread on. the thread-advancing reel at some stages of the process be" removed as nearly as possible before the thread is subjected to another liquid processing operation on the next succeeding reel.

The thread guide of this invention provides an effective and simple means for guiding the thread in its passage from the coagulating bath to thev various processing reels and simultaneouslyremoving from the wet thread a substantial .amount of the adhering processing liquids. The

guide is advantageously so constructed that the liquid which it wipes from the wet thread is returned to the processing liquid collecting troughs associated with the various thread-advancingreels.

The invention will be more fully described by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a portion of a continuous .processing apparatus for the production of viscose rayon;

'Figure 2 is aplan view of one form of thread guide embodying the'invention;

-Flgure 3 is an end elevation of the thread guide of Figure Figure 4 is a sectional representation of a 7 portion of the thread guide members;

Figure 5 represents a modified form of the thread guide-membersot the device:

' Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 7 is a perspectiveview of a third modification of the invention.

As shown in Figure 1, a viscose thread I0 is formed by the extrusion of a viscose solution through the spinneret ll into the coagulating bath I2. The thread I0 is withdrawn from the bath andpassed-through thread guide III which simultaneously wipes adh'ering coagulating bath therefrom. The thread is then conducted to the thread-advancing reel [4. After leaving this reel, the thread ispassed through a second thread guide l5 which also simultaneously wipes adhering processing liquid therefrom. The

. thread guide I5 is positioned at an angle so that processing'liquid wiped from the thread will be I returned to the coagulating bath 12.

After passing through the thread guide IS, the thread I travels around another thread-advancing reel l6 where further processing liquid is applied; After leaving this reel, the thread passes through another yarn guide l1 which also simultaneously wipes processing liquid from the wet thread. The thread guide I1 is mounted on the side of a trough A which collects processing liquid dripping from the thread collected on the threadadvancing reel.- The thread guide is positioned at an angle so the processing liquid which it removes from the wet thread is returned to the trough "A, After leaving the thread guide I], the thread may pass on to other thread-advancing reels for further processing treatment. Similar thread guides may be interposed between the various reels to remove processing liquid from the thread prior to treating stage. I

The thread guides l3, l5 and J! are shown in more detailed iashion'in the other figures of the drawing. Thus, the guide I3 isillustrated more fully in Figure 7. A pair of rod members l8 and I91 are crossingly mounted, forming a bifurcation, in a supporting structure 20 having two pairs of projections't'l, 22 and 23, 24-, the rod members being positioned therein in planes substantially parallel to one another. The supporteach subsequent threadthread passes. Crossingly positioned rodlike members l8 and I9 are supported by means of abutment 28 and upright supports 30 and 3| which are, in turn, positioned on the base plate. The base plate is provided on its under side with a flange 32 extending around three of its sides. Flange 32 provides additional strength to the base plate as well as a means for mounting the plate at an angle. The upper surface of the base plate is provided with ridges 33 and 34 at either side which aid in directing liquid which might collect on the base plate to flow back to the coagulating bath as shown in Figure 1. The face of abutment 28 is preferably angular to enable the wiped fluid flowing down the rodlike members It and is to flow readily off the abutment onto the base plate for return to the coagulating bath. The base plate and its various associated parts are advantageously made of lead or other suitable material which is not affected by the coagulating liquid. The rodlike members I8 and iii are made of a hard, noncorrosive, nonabrasive material such as, for example, tungsten carbide.

The thread l0, as shown in Figure 4, is bent around the rodlike members i8 and Min passing through the bifurcated thread guide. As a result, liquid adhering to the thread is wiped therefrom and flows down the rod peripheries.

The thread guide H of Figure l isishown in I more detailed fashion in Figure 6 of the drawing. As there shown, the guide comprises a troughshaped base member 37 having two side walls 38 and 39 and an end wall at. The end wall is provided with a slot 4! which extends to the adjacent portion of the base member and terminates in the circular hole 42., The sides 38 and 39 are provided with ridges S3 and M, and the crossingly positioned rodlike members l8 and i9 are mounted at one end in these ridges. The other ends of the rodlike members are mounted inthe end wall so on opposite sides of the slot 8|. To facilitate mounting of the thread or yarn guide on the thread-processing machine, as illustrated in Figure 1, the guide is provided with supporting members 45 and 46. The member 46 is provided with a threaded opening i! through which a setscrew may be inserted for engagement with the part of the thread-processing apparatus on which the guide is to be mounted, as into the side of trough HA. The ears 41 and 48 of the guide may also be used to provide additional support for the guide.

Figure 5 illustrates a modified form of the rodlike thread guide and wiping members. As there shown, these members are tubular in form and are provided with a longitudinal slot adapted to engage the thread being passed thereover. Liquid will be wiped from the thread and, in part, will run down the surface of the hollow portion of the rodlike members. Of .course, when such rodlike members are used, the lower ends thereof should project through the structure on which they are supported. Thus, for example, if such members are used in a thread guide, such as is illustrated in Figure 6, the ends of the rodlike members supported by ridges 43 and M should project through the ridges so that liquid collected in the hollow tubular portion of the rodlike mem bers may be free to flow readily back to the thread-processing liquid troughs.

Throughout the foregoing description, reference has been made to the use of two guiding and wiping rod members. Generally, two are usually sufficient. It may be desirable, however, to have the thread wiped more thoroughly by passing it through a plurality of rod members as, for in-- stance, three or four rod members crossingly mounted above each other and advantageously in substantially parallel planes.

5 The thread guide supporting structure may be constructed of a variety of materials depending upon the particular use to which the guide is to be put. Thus, for example, if the liquids to be removed from the thread passing through the guide are of a corrosive nature, the guides may advantageously be made of suitably resistant materials such as, for example, lead or, in some cases,

- cast aluminum. The rodlike thread-contacting portionsof the device should advantageously be made of a material which is sufficiently hard to resist wear due to the passage of thread thereover and should also be capable of resisting the corrosive action of any fluids adhering to the yarn. As previously indicated, tungsten carbide may be used with particular advantage for this purpose although glass and other suitable materials may also be used if desired.

Although the foregoing description of the invention shows the application of the yarn guide to the production of viscose rayon by the continuous process, it is to be understood that the guide may also be used in connection with other processing operations. The guide may be used with advantage whenever it is desired to guide and simultaneously remove from a thread or threadlike materials substances which are adhering thereto.

I claim:

1. A guide for yarn and the like comprising two members crossingly positioned one above the other forming a bifurcation for guiding said yarn, the yarn bearing on each of said members while passing therethrough, and supporting means for said members.

2.. A guide for yarn and the like comprising at least two rod members crossingly positioned and spaced one above the other in substantially parallel planes forming a bifurcation for guiding said yarns, the yarn bearing on each of said mem 's .while passing therethrough, and supporting meal... for said members.

3. A guide for yarn and the like comprising; at least two rod members of substantially circular cross-section crossingly positioned one above the other in substantially parallel planes forming a bifurcation for guiding said yarns, the yarn bearing on each of said members while passing therethrough, and supporting means for said members.

4. A guide for yarn and the like comprising at least two longitudinally slotted rod members crossinglypositioned one above the other forming a bifurcation for guiding said yarn, the slots of said members beingpositioned to face the yarn being guided, said yarn bearing on both sides of said slots of each of said members while passing therethrough, and supporting means for said members.

5. A guide for yarn and the like comprising two longitudinally slotted tubular members crossingly spaced one above the other forming a biflll'- cation for guiding said yarn, the slots of said members being positioned to face the yarn being guided, said yarn bearing on both sides of said slots of each of said'members while passing therethrough, and supporting means for said members. 6. A guide for'yarn and the like comprising a trough-shaped base member having anend wall and two side walls, said end wall and the portion of the trough-shaped memberadjacent thereto tending from said opening to one edge of the,

4 member, a pair of rods croesinsly positioned one above the other and supported by said base memher, said rods being arranged so that they cross above said opening and slot.

KENNETH M. MOLELLAN. 

